ForniKATEress (Kate Smurthwaite / PBH’s Free Fringe)

Kate Smurthwaite is probably better known to you, me and producers of ‘TV chat’ for excoriating take-downs of the manifold idiocies of the patriarchy. This year, though, she is mostly advocating the merits of the polyamorous lifestyle in what she describes the most honest show she’s ever written. Smurthwaite is indeed remarkably candid as she leads us through a sort of polyamorous FAQ, detailing the logistical emotional considerations involved. That structure starts well, but ends up constraining things slightly: too many ‘Q’s and/or not enough time to develop ideas. That aside, the idiot patriarchy still gets its deserved kicking in amongst a defence of a lifestyle (if one were needed) which is cogent and, at times, very funny indeed.